Tracking labor – the greatest operating cost of a golf course maintenance operation – can be extremely challenging and time consuming without the correct tools. Tracking the amount of time it takes to complete the numerous daily tasks that occur on a golf course can be a full-time job. Furthermore, maintaining an accurate daily record of tasks performed, course conditions, turf health and other important information requires considerable time and devotion. John Shaw, golf course superintendent at Valley Brook Country Club in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, was looking for a solution that would allow him to gather valuable data about his labor resources without creating a tremendous administrative burden for the department.
At first, Shaw utilized Microsoft Excel to track labor inputs throughout the golf course. This was a successful way to measure how much time and labor went in to maintaining the 27-hole facility while also keeping detailed records for easy reference. However, the information in the spreadsheets was only as good as what was entered, which meant that Shaw and his team had to invest considerable time to ensure accurate data entry.
Shaw eventually came across a more automated approach to tracking labor that required considerably less input from himself and the staff. The software operates as a digital job board that automatically tracks how much time and labor costs go into a specific task and specific areas of the golf course. This digital job board eliminated all the extra work that was needed to input information into the spreadsheet documents they had been using. What was once a time-consuming, and sometimes inaccurate, daily challenge was now done automatically.
Shaw now has a detailed breakdown of time commitments and costs for each task and area of the golf course. This information is used to assess the level of labor inputs relative to the surface’s performance. The software produces detailed reports in the form of tables and charts so that data can be easily interpreted. This has made the labor tracking program a great tool for communicating specific labor needs to facility decision-makers.
Additionally, detailed notes on tasks performed, weather and other important information are all readily available. Productivity has also improved because of better scheduling. When asked if he would have changed anything, Shaw replied: “I would have started using the labor management software much sooner if I could go back in time.”
Northeast Region Agronomists:
Adam Moeller, director, Green Section Education – amoeller@usga.org
Darin Bevard, director, Championship Agronomy – dbevard@usga.org
Elliott Dowling, agronomist – edowling@usga.org
Paul Jacobs, agronomist – pjacobs@usga.org